I've defined my illustration practice as work that I have produced specificaly at the request of an third party or in the interests of selling to a third party via trade fairs or direct commission. This work represents that of my Talking Pictures business (see also comics). Samples listed are sections from storyboards for short or feature-length films, which I am displaying as whole board pages or as individual panels, set out in proper sequence (the links with asterixes * also contain a link to full-board animatics flash files). Other examples are editorial illustration and/or advertising work..
For many years, while living in London U.K. (see my bio) I studied the very prominent and expansive collection of Celtic Art that exists in the British Museum. These researches included making drawing studies of the ancient artefacts right through to copying elements from the early Christian illuminated manuscripts. I've continued this work to the present day. Important in the symbolic repertoire of Celtic illumination is the ever-present image of the circle. The circle represents the basic common denominator of what we know to be true–it is the simple shape of the moon, the sun and the planet we inhabit. It is also a powerful mathematical/geometric structure which can be endlessly explored creatively. I believe that the Celts fell in love with the properties of the circle and allowed this to become the expression of their love/awe for the Earth, its creatures, its mysteries and its power. In the spirit of Celtic playfulness I have adapted some of the earliest designs to the concept of a contemporary mandala form (designs that come from the Petrie Crown, the Longban Disc [external link] and the book of Durrow [external link] The Celtic Mandalas are sold as reproductions.
All images are copyright © Ruth Tait